Lancaster's Extraordinary Give comes back bigger

Lancaster's Extraordinary Give event is coming back for a second year, and it's coming back bigger.

Scheduled for Nov. 22, the region’s largest day of online giving will benefit 260 regional nonprofit organizations — a 35 percent increase from last year, when 192 organizations participated.

Twenty-five related community events are scheduled to occur throughout the 24-hour giving period, including Penn Square activities beginning at 4:45 p.m. and featuring “the never-been-seen-in-Lancaster lighting of the Griest Building.” Windows on 12 floors of Lancaster’s tallest building will be lit by Lancaster-based creative firm Meteor Tower in partnership with Atomic Design and with the full support of building owner Rob Ecklin.

Dubbed Light Up Lancaster, the show will mark milestone moments in the Extraordinary Give and create “an exciting visual link to the power of giving back in our community.” There will also be a flash mob of 100-plus performing the "Electric Slide" at the base of the building.

Extraordinary Give is, simply, a 24-hour chance for individuals to visit ExtraGive.org and donate to participating organization of their choice. Every dollar donated on that day will be stretched by $250,000 from the event host Lancaster County Community Foundation and presenting sponsor Rodgers & Associates. Each gift also offers a chance at an additional $50,000 in prizes for community organizations.

In 2012, the local event’s first year generated nearly $1.7 million thanks to the generosity of more than 6,200 donors. It was rated the most generous per capita in the country and outperformed communities like Miami, Fla., at its first-time event.